Hello everyone and welcome to our journey today through the colorful corridors of makeup history! Today, we will dive into a fascinating and sometimes dark tale that will take us from ancient civilizations to the present day, exploring how something as simple as lipstick has been at the center of controversies, symbolism, and cultural revolutions. Do satanic rituals have something in common with... makeup?
From an act of rebellion to a status symbol, from a religious practice to a deadly fashion, makeup has spanned millennia of human history, evolving alongside our societies. But what drives us to color our cheeks, accentuate our lips, and brighten our eyes? The answer might surprise you.
Starting from ancient Sumeria, where it all began, through ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and up to the tumultuous 20th century, we will discover how makeup has reflected health, fertility, politics, and even resistance. But beware, it hasn’t always been rosy; makeup has had its dark side, capable of bringing death and destruction.
So, get comfortable and prepare to be surprised, because we are about to unveil how makeup, a daily companion that many of us take for granted, hides stories of power, seduction, magic, and rebellion. Are you ready?
Let's go back in time: We return to the origins of makeup in ancient Sumeria, around 3500 BC. Historians tell of a queen named Puabi who ruled this ancient civilization, located in modern-day southern Iraq. At that time, the color red, a symbol of vitality and energy, was highly significant because it was associated with fire and blood.
Queen Puabi innovated the use of makeup by creating a lipstick from crushed red rocks mixed with white lead, demonstrating her ingenuity. This invention soon became popular among the Sumerians, who began to speak admiringly of the queen's colored lips. The news spread quickly, and soon everyone, regardless of gender or age, began to adopt the use of lipstick, inspired by the queen's example.
Lipstick became so important that Queen Puabi was buried with a special container for this precious cosmetic, demonstrating her love for it. Over time, makeup began to symbolize a person's social status, becoming a visible indicator of one's position in Sumerian society.